ber of Irish beggars, old and young, of both sexes, were ready on the wharf with their pressing appeals for alms, which, judging from their appearance, they were sadly in need of, for they were without shoes or stockings, and the few clothes they had on were extremely mean.

We hurried on to the station, where we settled with the porters for bringing our luggage, and although we thought their charge rather high, we supposed it to be all right until one of our ship companions from New Orleans, a native or former resident of Dublin, made his appearance, and knowing the legal rates for this service, informed us that we and all the passengers with us who had preceded him had been overcharged. He at once denounced the porters as rascals, when a police officer took the matter up and they made no hesitation in returning what they knew they had no right to charge.

We were told that far the pleasantest way to Cork was by the steamboat on the river Lee, along which the scenery is said to be very beautiful; but there was to be no boat this evening, and we, therefore, took the cars, which, in a half hour's time, brought us to the city. Fine as the scenery may be on the river, it can hardly be more charming than on some parts of the route by rail. The country through which we passed is very fertile, and appeared to be in the highest state of cultivation. We saw several beautiful residences, the grounds of which were laid out in the most elegant manner.

CORK, MAY 22.-Cork is situated on the north and south branches of the river Lee, which is spanned by many fine bridges. It presented a more cheerful aspect in every point of view than we expected to see. We anticipated seeing here large numbers of

that poverty-stricken class of Irish people, so many of whom emigrate from Southern Ireland to the United States, but of such we saw comparatively few (there might have been many in the suburbs.) while the great mass of citizens appeared to be well off and to enjoy life without complaint. Judging from what we saw in the short time we remained in the city, we came to the conclusion that every branch of trade was active and prosperous, as much so as in other seaport towns. We visited some of the churches, in one of which we saw a remarkable statue of Christ. One was the church of the Holy Trinity, a handsome Gothic building, founded by Father Mathew, to whose memory a monument has been erected here, being a statue of himself upon a raised pedestal, and presenting an excellent likeness of him as we remember him on the occasion of his visit to Washington.

In company with six of our fellow passengers we made a visit to Blarney Castle by private carriages, going by one road and returning by another, the distance being about six miles-a most pleasant trip, affording charming views of Queen's College, Black Rock, the Heights of Glenmire and the Groves of Blarney. The ruins of the famous Blarney Castle consist mainly of a large square structure or tower one hundred and twenty feet in height, completely covered with ivy. The "Blarney Stone" is situated twenty feet below the summit in a detached position not easily reached, yet all visitors, ambitious to do a foolish thing, usually try to kiss it. If there is any merit in the act, it is perhaps in the courage shown to accomplish it; for without some person to assist you in maintaining your balance as you lie stretched at full length to reach the stone, you would be in

danger of falling and breaking your neck. However, the feat is attempted, oftener than otherwise, no doubt, "for the fun of the thing;" and for the timid there is on the ground floor another stone, easy of access, and said to possess all the wonderful qualities of the more noted block.

CHAPTER III.

AKES OF KILLARNEY, MAY 24.- We came here in three hours, by rail, from Cork, on Saturday evening, the 22d. Our hotel is beyond the village of Killarney, on the margin of the principal lake. The situation is charming, but we have found the weather a little too cool to make the tour of the lakes. Sunday was to us a welcome day of rest, following so soon after our ten days on the ocean; but on Monday forenoon we rode eight miles, to Dunloe Gap and back, passing the ruins of Aghadoe and Dunloe Castle, which is in good repair. We rode into the Gap to the end of the carriage road, followed by horsemen with their horses and saddles for hire through the Gap. Near the end of our journey, too, several brawny girls, barefoot and in short clothes, ran with the speed of a deer to keep up with our carriage, urging us in the most persistent manner to buy their bunches of wild flowers. Here, also, we were proffered mountain dew" and goat's milk by the granddaughter of a celebrated character named Kate Kearney, who used to ply the same trade, and lived in a stone and mud house, which still serves as a shelter for her worthy descendant. Sufficiently toned up by

the sharp mountain air which came down powerfully through the Gap, we were constrained to decline indulging in any of her "poteen;" nor did we patronize the two or three native artillerymen who were stationed here, with small cannon, which, for a trifling fee, they fire with remarkable effect in respect to the echoes of the report in the mountains.

In the afternoon we rode eight or ten miles through the beautiful grounds of Lord Kenmare and the Hon. Mr. Herbert, M. P., to the "Meeting of the Waters," where "the picturesque Dinish Island divides the stream. This spot is said to have been warmly admired by Sir Walter Scott when he visited the lakes.' There is a small inn or half-way house on the island, where refreshments can be obtained, and where fishing implements are kept for the use of visitors. On our way back we visited Muckross Abbey, a photograph of which is among our collection, and from the back of which we copy: "The well-known ruins of Muckross Abbey are situated in the beautiful demesne of Muckross, the property of Colonel Herbert, about two miles from the town of Killarney, and to the antiquary, as well as the general visitor, present considerable attractions. The Abbey was erected by the McCarthys, Princes of Desmond, for Franciscan friars, A. D. 1340. In 1602 it was reedified, and though ruin has resumed its sway, is still in a good state of preservation. The cloisters are the most perfect portion of the ruins, and consist of semi-circular and twelve-pointed arches, overshadowed by the foliage of an immense yew tree, planted at the time of the erection of the Abbey, and whose trunk measures upward of ten feet in circumference. The chancel contains a fine east window, the tracery of which is still perfect. Here were also interred the

remains of the O'Sullivans, the O'Donoughues, and the MacCarthy More, founder of the Abbey." We brought away with us, as keepsakes, some of the leaves of this famous old yew tree, which we regarded with special interest, not unmixed with a sort of reverence inspired by age.

Killarney, with its lake and mountain scenery, and the highly-adorned estates of Lord Kenmare, Hon. Mr. Herbert, and other wealthy landlords, must be a charming summer resort. The lake—there is really only one is in three parts; the lower and largest being six miles long and three wide. The upper lake is four miles long and two broad. On the side of one of the mountains is O'Sullivan's cascade, which has a fall of seventy feet, and opposite to this is Innisfallen Island, immortalized by Moore:

"Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well

May calm and sunshine long be thine;
How fair thou art let others tell,

While but to feel how fair be mine.

"Sweet Innisfallen, long shall dwell

In memory's dream that sunny smile
Which o'er thee on that evening fell
When first I saw thy fairy isle."

DUBLIN, MAY 25.-Leaving Killarney at 7 A. M., we have made good time to reach Dublin, one hundred and eighty-six miles, at 5 P. M., considering that we stopped two hours at Mallow for the connecting train from Cork. These two hours were agreeably passed in a walk through the town and a visit to the ruins of an old castle in the vicinity, the history of which we did not learn. It was once the stronghold, no doubt, of some lord of the manor; but its crumbling walls are now covered with ivy, and the crows and other birds seemed to hold possession.